Latest Area News Headlines

ST. PAUL – The Minnesota State Fair 2015 Grandstand Concert Series is filling up with some pretty big names these days, and two more were confirmed to the line-up this week. Meghan Trainor with special guests Charlie Puth and Life of Dillon will perform Tuesday, Sept. 1 at 7:30 p.m. The legendary Merle Haggard will perform on Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 7 at 7:30 p.m., with a special guest to be announced at a later date. Tickets for each show are $35 with all reserved seating.

Tickets for both shows are on sale and available via etix.com or by calling 800-514-3849. In addition,...

U.S. District Judge Donovan Frank was highly critical of the program following the end of a six-week trial after a lawsuit against the state was filed by more than 700 people committed to MSOP facilities.

Residents of the facilities had argued the program is unconstitutional as few offenders – even those with low-level convictions – have been released from the high-security facilities they were committed to since the program began 20 years ago.

WORTHINGTON – Lewis & Clark Regional Water System Executive Director Troy Larson said Tuesday that the $19 million federal funding advance included in the $373 million bonding bill passed during the Minnesota special session Saturday, along with the $9 million in the FY15 federal funding is estimated to cover construction of several things.

Larson said the funding will allow the pipeline to Lincoln Pipestone Rural Water System’s connection three miles east of Adrian, a four million gallon ground storage reservoir four and a half miles southwest of Luverne and a booster pump...

Norman Surplus of Larne, County Antrim in Northern Ireland dropped into Worthington on Friday.

Well, he didn’t actually drop in. He skillfully landed his bright yellow gyrocopter, affectionately known as Roxy, and taxied up to the hangar, where a small group of people were waiting to greet him.

Surplus is on the U.S. leg of an official Fédération Aéronautique Internationale (FAI) world record attempt to become the first person to fly an autogyro or gyrocopter around the world. He left Portland, Ore. June 1 and is heading for Portland, Maine.

WORTHINGTON - The Manna Food Pantry will be closed Wednesday to honor the memory of volunteer and board member Sandy Nelson. The pantry apologizes for any inconvenience. Normal hours will resume Friday.

WORTHINGTON – Producers from around the area will be selling locally grown food starting June 23 at Worthington Farmers Market in downtown Worthington. The Saturday Worthington Farmers Market will begin July 11 in the parking lot at Ace Hardware along Oxford Street.

People are invited to shop at the market and enjoy a wide variety of locally produced products including fruits...

WORTHINGTON – If the smiles, laughter and pure enjoyment on the faces of the people in attendance at this year’s Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Music Festival were anything to go by, then the event was a hit.

Music lovers flocked to see the various bands perform, windsurfers flew across the surface of the lake, children ran and played.

The lack of a fenced-in beer garden was a success, both in a trouble-free weekend and in a boost in sales compared to other regatta weekends. According to committee president Ken Moser, everyone respected the rules, keeping alcohol...

WORTHINGTON – Grab your lawn chairs or get ready to do some dancing when Todd Hurst hits the Sailboard Stage at 6 p.m. tonight at the Worthington Windsurfing Regatta & Music Festival, followed by Maiden Dixie at 8 p.m., and don’t forget the UV Splash Colordash once the sun goes down.

The beer tent opens at 3 p.m. today, and the food vendors opened for lunch and should be open until 8 p.m or later.

On Saturday, the fun continues with the Regatta Bike Ride. Registration begins at 8 a.m. at Centennial Park, with the ride starting at 9 a.m. For the windsurfers, the Skipper’s...

WORTHINGTON – It is official – the new name for the old mall will be “Promenade on Oxford,” chosen by Jim and Iris Pierce.

Brian Pellowski of PBK Investments is the man behind the development that will take over the mall area,and back in April he decided the complex needed a new identity. He involved the community and held a contest, offering a $500 prize to the winner, which he chose himself.

The next question on everyone’s mind is, “What kinds of stores can we expect to see on the Promenade on Oxford?” Hopefully we’ll be getting some answers soon. In the meantime,...

WORTHINGTON – The Minnesota Department of Transportation advises motorists to drive with caution in southwestern Minnesota due to forecasted heavy rains today.
Motorists are warned that roads may be closed or restricted without warning as flash flooding is difficult to predict. Watch for cones and barrels on the roadways as they indicate potential hazards.

Every flood is dangerous. If you must travel, expect the unexpected – flash floods can occur anytime, anywhere. Do not drive around barricades or into flooded areas.